Minister accused of shady business

Minister Martinez also addressed a scandal that arose this week. He has been accused of using bank accounts belonging to his employees to transfer monies from government and then having them withdraw the monies and then hand over to him. The allegation is being made by his former employee, Kirk Lamb who says that he was one of those persons whose account was used, which he adds was done without him being consulted. Lamb was employed by the Minister up until October last year when he was accused of stealing a burglar bar and selling it. That is when he and his employer fell out. He spoke with the media and the following is his version.

Kirk Lamb – Former Employee

“When the burglar bar was missing from the building a young man came through place and got the burglar bar. So like how I was there it is me who would get the blame for the burglar bar because I am the caretaker for the building. So we got back the burglar bar and the police men spoke to him and he dropped the case against me but I felt hurt in my own way.”

Reporter:

“Do you think he dropped that case because of all that has happened in terms of the contractor business would have come out?”

Kirk Lamb – Former Employee

“Well all of that too. The contractor part he knows he was using me and I am not a contractor, he knew he was using me so that when I got the money I gave him all the money, all I got was my salary that you see on that list. When I get all the money I give it to Mr.Boots until a period of a couple years down when I open my account it made it start to go through my account. So when I got the money he had his crony that would pick up each of his cronies that would take them to collect and take it to the back and put it in Housing for the Poor. My name is Kirk Lamb, my name was ringing up like calling up and I am not a contractor and I wouldn’t want to go to jail for something that I achieve nothing off. The area rep called me. He usually called me or one of his crony, I don’t really know his name but he would call me and say ‘I am coming to pick you up to take you to bank or credit union so that you can get the money.’ that came in my name for Housing for the Poor. I used to get the money, we would go to treasury and pick up a cheque.”

Reporter:

“How many of you?”

Kirk Lamb – Former Employee

“Well sometimes you would have four of us or five of us. They are employees just like me, workers just like me but we are not contractors. We are not contractors, if we were contractors we would have our tools or trucks and would be building houses.”

Reporter

“But when you found out what he was doing when you were called out that first time you still continued it, did you question what happened?”

Kirk Lamb – Former Employee

“Well I continued to do it because I knew my job was on the line.”

So this afternoon Minister Martinez responded to these allegations. He said that flatly that Lamb is just a disgruntled employee who he had to dismiss because of theft. He adds too that even after Lamb confessed to the crime, he, the Minister, decided to drop all charges against him. When asked about the allegation of money transfers, he denied them. The Minister explained his version of the events.

Anthony Martinez – Area Representative Port Loyola

“There was a report from the security upstairs of Women’s Department that Kirk Lamb was seen moving a burglar bar and they investigated the report, they picked up Mr.Lamb and Mr.Lamb admitted to stealing the burglar bar from the door of which he was staying in a room downstairs of that same building for free. Kirk Lamb in turn brought the police here to Mr.Gill’s house here who had the burglar bars and an altercation ensued- as far as I understand it from the police of which Mr.Gill hit him and Mr.Gill will be charged for wounding and also there is the possibility of handling stolen goods. I asked to see Mr.Lamb and Superintendent Noble brought him out and in his presence I asked him ‘What happened Kirk?’ He started crying and apologized and said that he stole the burglar bar and that he is on drugs and so I said the least I could do for him at that point in time was to let him go. Mr.Kirk Lamb was a contractor, he was employed from time to time with the Ministry of Works which means under the South Side Poverty Alleviation project which with the Freedom of the Press Act, of which you can go and ask from the Ministry of Works who Mr.Kirk Lamb is and you will see Mr.Kirk Lamb even in photographs at the Ministry of Works signing contracts.”

Reporter:

“So the contracts you’re talking about are him being involved in the south side project?”

Anthony Martinez – Area Representative Port Loyola

“Yes those are contractors.”

Reporter

“And for which he is getting money according to you?”

Anthony Martinez – Area Representative Port Loyola

“Yes. How the thing works is that we would advertise for contractors, I know he was a contractor because I made recommendation.”

Reporter

“You never gave him any money ? Mr.Martinez never placed any money in his account or asked him to retrieve any money?”

Anthony Martinez – Area Representative Port Loyola

“Not once.”

Reporter

“Earlier you said that when this problem arose you in other words forgave him and asked for leniency from the court, from the police department but then you say that he is disgruntled- if you took care of him in those ways why would you say he is disgruntled?

Anthony Martinez – Area Representative Port Loyola

“Well let me tell you something it is the political season. You are going to talk about that happened in October? October, November, December, January the end of February one week before elections? In my view it’s a political ploy and that is all I will say about that.”

The minister also denied allegations of nonpayment to social security. He also says he has known Lamb since 2006 and not for 24 years as Lamb alleges.

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